The Fight At Blazer's Mill, In
New Mexico
This account of the the Blazer
Mill fight is written by Mr. Almer
N. Blazer, whose father owned the
mill, and he himself was an eye-witness
being in his teens at the time,
writes from that perspective. He
gives a version that is slightly
at variance with Mr. Frank Coe's
tale in other particulars and says
that the single shot that hit Roberts
came from the gun of Billy the Kid,
and in this he quotes Billy, who
came that way in charge of two deputies
on the way from Mesilla to Lincoln
after he had been convicted and
sentenced for the murder of sheriff
Brady of Lincoln county.
Further Mentions: Walter Noble
Burns * Frank Coe, of the McSween
faction * Charlie Bowdre * George
Coe * Brewer * Emil Blazer * Captain
Miller * Johnny Patton, Numa Strain,
Dick Ewin * Tularosa * Tejanos *
Nogal Canyon * La Luz * Godfrey
* Wellie Pitts and Si Maxwell *
old Joe Weaver * Boudre * Johnny
Ryan * A TRIP TO NEW MEXICO.
The editor of Frontier Times,
in company with Dean T. U. Taylor
and J. D. Dillingham of Austin,
made a trip to New Mexico the early
part of July, to dig up history
concerning John Simpson Chisum,
the great cattle baron, who entered
the cattle business in Denton county,
Texas, before the Civil War, and
who later moved his herds to Concho
county, and operated a store at
Trickman, in Coleman county. When
the country became too crowded John
Chisum again moved his cattle, this
time driving them across the Pecos
up into New Mexico, and located
a ranch there, becoming the greatest
cattle baron in the West. The Lincoln
county war, and the Billy the Kid
history clusters around that early
day cattle venture of John S. Chisum,
but he was not a participant. This
history has been touched upon in
various issues of Frontier Times,
but more will follow later.
Further Mentions: Trickham, Texas
* Fort Stockton, Pecos City, Carlsbad,
New Mexico, Roswell, Hondo, San
Patricio, Mescalero, Lincoln * Roswell
* Fort Sumner * Clovis, and Lubbock
* Big Springs, San Angelo * Mrs.
Lillie C. Klasner pioneer school
teacher of New Mexico * Robert Casey
* Almer N. Blazer * Hondo Canyon
* George Coe * San Patricio * Miss
Nan Hillary Harrison * the Lincoln
county war * the delightful Bonnell
Dude Ranch near Hondo *
An Airplane Trip Over The Chisholm
Trail
By T. U. Taylor, Austin, Texas.
Account is a travelogue given
by Dean T. U. Taylor at the Bandera
County Old Settlers Jubilee at Frontier
Times Museum in Bandera, June 3,
1939, under the title of "A One-Day
Trip Over the Old Chisholm Trail."
Includes map of the old cattle trail.
Mentions: the home of the late
W. T. Jackman, President of the
Trail Drivers * the home of Sam
Kone * the ranch of Jesse Day *
grandson, Pierce Day * Webberville
* Montoplis Ford * Josiah Wilbarger
* Mrs. Reuben Hornsby * Walnut Creek
* Dave Dillingham * Round-Rock *
the ranch of George Cluck * his
wife, Hattie * Snyder * Red River
Station * old Cornhill * Florence
* Jarrell * Salado * the ancient
home of the Robertsons * Salado
College, * Jim Ferguson * Sam Sparks
* Belton, the county seat of Bell
county * Bosque county * Oakwood
Cemetery at Austin, Texas * Valley
Mills, Clifton, Meridian, and Walnut
Springs * Phillip Nolan * the city
of Cleburne * Easterwood 's Brick
Yard * Caddo Peak * the little town
of Birdville, once county seat of
Tarrant county * Fort Bird * John
B. Denton * John Simpson Chisum
* Slidell * the old camping ground
at Bolivar * Red River Station *
Montague * Queen Victoria Peak,
* the Old Butterfield Route * the
old settlement of Ringgold * old
St. Joe * J. H. Baker of Palo Pinto
* George Cluck's herd of Williamson
county * Ewell Cluck * Monument
Hill, * the town of Waurika * Duncan
* Marlow * Guthrie * Kingfisher
* the grave of Pat Hennessey * Smoky
River * Mrs. Lou Gore * Chief Left-Hand
* James R. Meade * , P. A. Smith,
* Joe Van * Council Grove * Salt
Springs in Blain County * Joe Thoburn
and Alvin Rucker * Greenfield, Oklahoma
* The firm of Driscoll and Moritz
Monument Works *
Alfred Sturgis Thurmond
By Houston Wade.
Account of a true Texas hero
and patriot, he was one of the Mier
Prisoners and a prisoner in Perote
Castle. Following his return to
Texas, he served as the first sheriff
of Victoria county, from 1847 to
1852 in that office. After annexation
Captain Thurmond served as a member
of the Second Legislature. Here
is his story.
Mentions: the tower at La Grange
* Thomas Jefferson Green * John
Henry Brown * A. S. Shurmon. Alexander
W. Terrell * Miss Harriet Smither
* O. R. Willis * Alfred Sturgis
Thurmond was born in Rutherford,
Gibson county, Tennessee, in the
year 1815 * the son of John G. Thurmond
and his wife, Ann Louise Sturgis
Thurmond * eight children in the
order named: Erasmus Darwin, John
Hermodius, Orville, Mary Jane, Pulaski
Adolphus, Tobias, our hero Alfred
Sturgis, and Columbus Lafayette
* Captain Michael Costly * participated
in the Vasquez Raid * Captain Ewen
Cameron of the Mier Expedition.
* Victoria * Miss Julia McGrew *
Alfred McGrew Thurmond * Rockport
* Captain Thurmond became a member
of Refugio Lodge No. 190, A.F, &
A.M. * Alexander W. Terrell * Tom
Green's brigade * C. L. Thurmond
* three sons: Seymour, Jr., of El
Paso, Denton of Hatch, New Mexico,
and Stafford Thurmond of Los Angeles
* J. Williamson Moses * Joseph F.
Smith * Rancho Salado * W. L. Robards
* Sharp & Bellews * J M Doughty
* A GOOD MAN PASSES AWAY.
Brief obit. and account of Governor
Will H. Mayes, aged 78, former lieutenant-governor,
and dean of the University of Texas
school of journalism.
Mentions: Governor O. B. Colquitt
* the Brownwood Bulletin * his son,
Wendell Mayes * Mrs. E. V. Boles
of Brownwood ; * H. F. Mayes of
Brownwood; three sons, Will H. Mayes
Jr., of Ranger, Wendell, and, Robert
C. Mayes of San Antonio; and three
daughters, Miss Etheridge Mayes
of Fort Worth ; Miss Tyty Mayes
of Norman, Okla *
On A Mexican Mustang Through
Texas
By ALEX E. SWEET and J. ARMOY
KNOX
This is the last installment
of a serial account of two daring
adventurers who colorfully describe
their exciting and sometimes humorous
happenings on their trip through
the wilds and wiles of Texas during
the 1870's. (Continued from Last.
Month)
Flowers And Fruits From The Wilderness
Written by Z. N. Morrell, in
1871.
This is a serial article of 10
installments that traces the events
in the life of fiery Baptist frontier
preacher, Z. N. Morrell, who came
to Texas from Tennessee in December,
1835 due to health problems. His
life quickly became intertwined
with many formative events in Texas
history of which he played an important
part. Morrell, besides being a notable
preacher of the Gospel and a true
Texas patriot, was also an excellent
historian and writer.
Mentions: Yellabusha county,
Mississippi * McIntosh, a deacon
of the Baptist church at Nashville
* Elder Frank Baker * two lawyers,
Chester and Hayes, both nephews
by marriage to General Jackson,
then president of the United States
* Dr. Butler * Adam Huntsman * old
Fort Gaines on the Sabine * Daniel
Parker of "twoseed" notoriety, from
Illinois *
Tells Of Killing Of Camilla Hanks
Account of killing of Camilla
Hanks, a member of the notorious
Butch Cassidy gang, by Colonel Thos.
M. Stell, of Cuero, who knew Hanks
personally.
Mentions: Camilla was born here
in DeWitt county * His grandfather
was one of Stephen F. Austin's original
Three Hundred colonists *
Gun-Play Versus Gun-Fighting
By Guy J. Giffen.
Lengthy and detailed article
comparing the gun-fighters of the
day (1930's) versus the renown outlaws
of old. Speed comparisons are given
in detail.
Mentions: Ed McGivern of Lewiston,
Montana, unquestionably ranks first
for speed and has been called "the
fastest gunman of all time" * Milton
Hicks, of Atlanta, Georgia * * Billy
the Kid could equal, if not exceed,
the speed of McGivern * Kid Curry
(Harvey Logn) * "Dutch" Henry Ziplinsky
* Butch Cassidy * Rud Rennie * Buffalo
Bill * the Winchester Arms Company
* John Wesley Hardin, Bill Longley
* Bill Tilghman * Capt. Jeff Milton
of Tombstone, Arizona * Owen Wister
* Burt Alvord one time constable
at Wilcox, Arizona * Emmet Dalton
*
Young America Is Taking To The
Air
By J. Marvin Hunter.
Indian Days In Llano County
Account of Mrs, Cede Pool Faris,
one of Llano county's best known
pioneer characters and a member
of one of the first families to
settle in the county. Her parents,
Isaac Sampson and Sarah Hails, came
from South Carolina to Texas, and
after residing for a time in Lavaca
and Williamson counties, they came
to Llano and settled in the Long
Mountain section. This was in 1853,
several years before Llano county
was organized. Mrs Faris was born
at their Long Mountain home on September
30, 1858. She was married on January
18, 1887, to W. J. Faris, an early
day trail driver and ranchman, whose
parents, Mr. and Mrs. Solomon Faris,
also settled in the Long Mountain
section in the early fifties. Here
is the story of the Llano pioneer
couple.
Further Mentions: her son, V.
H. Faris * V. H. Faris of Llano,
W. S. Faris of Bandera, R. D. Faris
of Donna, Mrs. C. D. Garrett of
Burnet, Mrs. Sidney Nobles of Lone
Grove, and Mrs. Charles Harpin of
La Feria. * Tow Valley * the massacre
of the Whitlock family * the Yett
settlement * Marble Falls * the
Whitlock home on the east side of
Long Mountain * Riley Smith * the
Solomon Faris place * Fort Mason
Crossing * Kingsland * J. D. Haile;
a sister, Mrs. A. G. Murchison *KILLING
OF FRANK WINKLER
By Margie M. Minatre
There are still old timers at
Colettoville. nine miles west of
Victoria, who remember when there
wasn't a Colettoville, but a little
settlement that was known for miles
around as the Steiner Settlement
or String Town. Talk to these old
timers and they'll tell you of days
when it was kind of hard to make
a living; times when it wasn't safe
if you had any money; and maybe
too they will tell you of Frank
Winkler. They didn't know Winkler
so well but their fathers knew him,
and they remember that he was killed
by a bunch of "onary men that weren't
fit to live." They'll tell of Winkler
because he seems to typify what
frequently happened in the little
town. Here is the story.
Further Mentions: The Brookins—a
group of men that had banded together
near the close of the Civil War
and made their living. by plundering,
and stealing *
Sam Houston: Texas Hero
Account is an oration delivered
before the Battle of Flowers Association,
in April, 1939, by J. C. Schoultz,
A. and M. College of Texas.
The Diary Of A Frontier Preacher
Account details a well-kept diary,
which belonged to Rev. Walter Smith
South, an early day Methodist minister,
who came to Texas from Kentucky
in 1848 or 1849, and located at
Eutaw, near Bryan or Waxahachie.
This diary was kept in a plain,
legible handwriting, from June,
1860, through the Civil War
period, and up into the 1870's
Further Mentions: Col. J. N.
Sweeney, U. S. A., Retired * Bro
Holbrook * Mrs. Fullerton's * Mr.
Nicol * Phillip George * Hamby *
George Bragg * Mrs. Southerland
* Judge Deckman * Miss Mary Southerland
* Dr. Standerford * Miss Mary Burleson
* Montie South * Mr Latimer * Mr.
Medlin * Sister Vannoy * Bro. J.
George and Mrs. Covington * Capt.
J. R. Baylor * Mr. Dawson * Mr.
Alverson * Bro. J. G. Johnson *
Lemuel Bangs * George Needham *
Bro. Brittain at Weatherford * John
Standley * A. F. Luekot * Miss Minerva
Southerland * Benjamin Bond * Miss
Mollie V. Spent * Mr. P. E. Miller
* Jack Cuington * q
Old Red River Station
By T. U. Taylor, Austin, Texas.
Account of what became an essential
commercil point in Texas, Red River
Station connected with great cattle
industries that had just sprung
into life. Word passed from county
to county that a half-breed Indian
Jesse Chisholm, had marked a trail
through Indian territory; and herds
headed for the Red River. It was
learned that the Chisholm Trail
had extended within sixty miles
of the Red River, and the cattlemen
soon concentrated on the most strategic
point to the south end of the Chisholm
Trail. This proved to be at Red
River Station, at the mouth of Salt
Creek in Montague county. Here is
the story.
Mentions: The H. & T. C. Railroad
* Hempstead * Jefferson * Weatherford
* Cleburne, Jackboro, Granbury *
Millican, Bryan, etc * Victoria
Peak, Montague county * Camp Ten
* Nocona * the present Belcherville
* Caddo Peak * Bear Creek * Wylie
Gilden * Van Buren * Marcy's Trail
* Lee N. Perkins * Hiram Hudson
* Lee N. Perkins * Charlie H. McHugh
* Walter S. Thurston * John M. Rudman
* John W. Clanton * Lewis C. Kendall
* Lafayette D. Barefoot * Early
W. Robberson *
RELICS FOR MUSEUM.
Mentions: Miss Elizabeth Rullman
* , J. D. Rullman * M. Rossy, H.
Beilig, G. Altman, W. Wakner * S.
Jacobson, and J. Oppenheimer * J.
F. Fentiman * , W. L.. Richter,
J. R. Lambert, Mayor J. P. Campbell,
H. B. Salaway, W., G. Tobin, G.
F. Stuemke, Vicfor Beze, W. L. Parker,
J. H. Kirkpatrick, C. Meerscheidt,
Vories Brown, J. D. Rullman, F.
M. Gloeckner, J. E Webb * J. H.
McKee * The Huntsville Patriot *
Dr. A. Urban, M. D. *
Florence Fenley And "Old Timers"
Brief account of the life of
Florence Fenley, who had an eventful
life, filled with tragedies, joys
and sorrows that would read like
fiction. She has actually lived
through stirring events in her personal
life that would have discouraged
a person of less determination She
was born December 19, 1898 in her
grandfather's home at Uvalde, Texas.
She was also married in this same
historic home. She was the daughter
of Jim Fenley and the granddaughter
of Joel C. Fenley.
Mentions: book under the title
of "OldTimers," * Jno. N. Garner
* Draughon's Business College *
taught in Del Rio Draughon's College
* taught a business school at Camp
Wood * her grandfather Fenley's
ranch, "Murlo" (Muela) in Zavala
county. * Daisy Davenport